Where recycling and waste laws changed on Jan. 1

California, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, New York and Washington, D.C., are among the jurisdictions enforcing new recycling and waste laws as of Jan. 1, including bag fees, bottle bill updates and organics diversion mandates.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 4, 2023

Top interviews with waste and recycling leaders in 2022

Read some of the year’s most popular conversations with CEOs from Republic Services, WIN Waste Innovations, LRS and Vanguard Renewables, as well as leaders from WM, the U.S. EPA and other organizations.

Dec. 22, 2022

What’s next for renowned Minneapolis organics recycling program

More than half of eligible households have opted in to the city’s program, and Hennepin County considers this approach a model for the region. Potential policy and collection changes could aid further progress.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 20, 2022

Chicago looks to turn the page on recycling challenges, accelerate progress on waste plan

Stakeholders from the Department of Streets and Sanitation, LRS and the nonprofit Delta Institute weigh in on composting plans and what’s next for a city that has long been portrayed as lagging on recycling. 

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Dec. 15, 2022

Garcetti signs plastic reduction ordinance during final days as Los Angeles mayor

Starting in 2023, the law will phase out expanded polystyrene foam containers, tighten single-use plastic bag restrictions and limit waste at city facilities. Mayor Karen Bass is expected to continue a similar focus on environmental issues.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 13, 2022

Specialty recycling pick-up services flip the script on items accepted curbside

Services from Ridwell, Rabbit Recycling, TerraCycle, Casella Waste Systems and others are seeing growth as consumers want more options for hard-to-recycle products. Yet some are also navigating cost and legal challenges.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 13, 2022

DC revisiting 2032 zero waste target as it proposes new policies, plans curbside compost pilot

Public works leaders hope that a forthcoming zero waste plan will accelerate efforts and help the District “leapfrog” over other cities. But the nation’s capital also has some unique demographic and infrastructure challenges.

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 8, 2022

Los Angeles and San Diego ban polystyrene foam, other plastic products, on same day

The policies fit into broader state and local laws limiting plastic products, completing an effort in San Diego that a lawsuit previously blocked. Los Angeles will also look to limit waste at city facilities and events.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 7, 2022

WASTECON host city San Diego plans organics, trash, plastics changes

With updated waste and circular economy goals as part of its climate action targets, the city is moving forward on key policy and infrastructure actions, an elected official detailed at the conference’s opening session.

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 6, 2022

The US waste and recycling industry in 2022 — what you need to know

Stories on M&A, recycling policy and organics recycling expansion — and how the economy and environmental justice considerations are shaping the industry’s path forward — have driven the news this year.

Dec. 5, 2022

Could the launch of organics collection in one New York borough pave the way to citywide service?

After collecting 2,850 tons of organic material, at a lower cost than usual, the Department of Sanitation is touting the success of its new program. Advocates are urging action on a long-envisioned citywide launch.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 2, 2022

Zero waste and job creation go hand in hand, activists say

Zero waste jobs are opportunities to support workers from overburdened communities, according to speakers at the National Zero Waste Conference, but they must prioritize circular economy and environmental justice principles.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 2, 2022

How local governments are charting the future of zero waste

See Waste Dive’s map of which U.S. communities are pursuing zero waste, plus insights from leaders in the field on the concept’s past, present and future.

Updated Dec. 20, 2022

Mapping zero waste cities: Where local governments are pursuing waste prevention and diversion

Waste Dive is tracking which communities throughout the U.S. have zero waste goals, how they define those efforts and how much progress they’ve made.

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren , Julia Himmel • Updated Dec. 22, 2022

Beyond recycling: What’s next for effective zero waste planning

Despite constraints, experts say that bringing more voices to the table, linking efforts to climate and economic resilience goals, pursuing public-private partnerships and looking for non-policy solutions can all advance progress.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 30, 2022

A history of US cities adopting zero waste goals

The concept has become a mainstream part of municipal waste planning, experts say, even as targets largely remain aspirational and some recent efforts have faced pandemic-related setbacks.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 30, 2022

Seattle plans to move beyond diversion rate goals as it doubles down on waste prevention

Through its current solid waste plan update, Seattle Public Utilities hopes to develop metrics that better reflect the environmental and circular economy benefits from the city’s progress on waste prevention and reuse.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 28, 2022

With $100M in recycling and waste grants now available, EPA schedules info sessions on how to apply

The agency will host multiple workshops about how state, territorial and local governments can make their case for the highly anticipated infrastructure and education funding.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Dec. 21, 2022

What analyzing National Sword can teach us about optimizing US plastics recycling

The dust has yet to settle from the major reckoning the U.S. plastics recycling system faced, but three notable factors have the potential to change the status quo going forward, write researchers from the University of California, Berkeley.

By Jessica Heiges and Kate O’Neill • Nov. 16, 2022

Tracking recycling laws by state

The latest update to this tracker is New Hampshire’s governor signing a bill banning certain lithium-ion batteries from disposal. Illinois’ governor also signed a bill requiring large event facilities to recycle and collect organics from events.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Aug. 26, 2024

EPA promises recycling infrastructure funds, new reports coming soon

During the National Recycling Congress, the U.S. EPA’s Nena Shaw said the infrastructure grant funding process is almost ready and previewed work on batteries, data collection and future reports on plastics and food waste.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 15, 2022

The next frontier in e-commerce packaging: reusable bags and boxes

Online ordering spiked during the pandemic — and so did the waste it creates. As Cyber Monday approaches, startups such as Returnity and Trashless are developing ways to offer consumers and retailers an alternative.

By Lela Nargi • Nov. 15, 2022

Closed Loop launches new recycling company, Circular Services, with $700M investment

Combining the operations of Sims Municipal Recycling, Balcones Resources, Retrievr, HomeBiogas and more, the new company, to be led by Closed Loop CEO Ron Gonen, is being touted as a “holistic” service provider.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 15, 2022

Is California’s 2025 organics diversion target still viable?

An independent commission is now assessing whether course corrections are needed for the state’s landmark SB 1383 law. CalRecycle, WM, Republic Services, Agromin, Anaergia and many others have weighed in.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 14, 2022

Elections 2022: Denver greenlights recycling expansion, a close decision on San Diego trash fees and more

Voters in California, Colorado, Michigan, New York and Vermont weighed in on a range of state and local initiatives with implications for waste and recycling as part of Tuesday’s election.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 9, 2022